Date: 01/08/17
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Authentic Christianity: Introducing 2 Corinthians
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1-13
Description: Why do we need this ancient letter? Here are at least three reasons.
No King In Israel - Judges 17:1-21:25
Date: 11/20/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: No King In Israel
Scripture: Judges 17:1-21:25
Description: Judges ends in almost total darkness with some of the ugliest stories anywhere in the Bible. But even these darkest of scenes point the way to light. They're here to show us what we need if we really want lasting justice. We need a true and worthy king.
Last But Not Least - Judges 13:1-16:31
Date: 11/13/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Last But Not Least
Scripture: Judges 13:1-16:31
Description: In Samson, the last of the judges, we see a leader of unprecedented power leading a life of unbridled selfishness. We have a judge, in other words, who's no better than his people with no interest in saving them. But still God uses him. And in his story we get a glimpse of the future, of how God saves, and whom.
Holy Love - Judges 10:6-11:40
Date: 10/23/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Holy Love
Scripture: Judges 10:6-11:40
Description: The story of Jephthah is a dark one. It is a story of deliverance like the others, but the focus is not on his courage or even God's power. The focus is Jephthah's tragic misunderstanding of God's love; and it shows us our only hope for a peaceful, life-giving relationship with God is God's free, undeserved, gracious love for us in Jesus.
Like Father Like Son - Judges 8:1-9:57
Date: 10/16/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Like Father Like Son
Scripture: Judges 8:1-9:57
Description: Gideon's decline and Abimelech's fall show what happens when you treat your power as a blank check for your agenda, not a stewardship from God. This story warns us against abusing the privileges and opportunities we've been given, and it points us to the leader we desperately need.
The Lord Is With You - Judges 6:1-7:25
Date: 10/09/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: The Lord Is With You
Scripture: Judges 6:1-7:25
Description: The story of Gideon focuses on Gideon's slow-rising faith, God's remarkable patience, and the promise that the Lord delivers those willing to give up their desire for control and trust him.
Expect the Unexpected - Judges 4:1-5:31
Date: 10/02/16
Speaker: Matt Givens
Title: Expect The Unexpected
Scripture: Judges 4:1-5:31
Description: It may be that the stories in Judges follow a familiar cycle, but there's nothing predictable about the way God delivers his people. When he acts to save them, he makes it obvious that he's the one who does the saving.
Dark Comedy - Judges 3:12-30
Date: 09/25/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Dark Comedy
Scripture: Judges 3:12-30
Description: This chapter introduces what's typically called the Judges cycle. It's a pattern that most of the individual stories follow and it's the key to the meaning of the whole book.
Vicious Cycle - Judges 2:6-23
Date: 09/18/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Vicious Cycle
Scripture: Judges 2:6-23
Description: This chapter introduces what's typically called the Judges cycle. It's a pattern that most of the individual stories follow and it's the key to the meaning of the whole book.
No Compromise - Judges 1:1-2:5
Date: 09/11/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: No Compromise
Scripture: Judges 1:1-2:5
Description: Judges begins where Joshua left off. Israel has entered the land God promised them. They've been charged with removing the Canaanites still living there. But why was this so important? Why was it even ok? And then there is the driving question of the story: will Israel be faithful?
Introducing Judges: The King We All Need - Judges 1-21
Date: 09/04/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Introducing Judges: The King We All Need
Scripture: Judges 1-21
Description: This overview sermon sets up our fall preaching series. What is Judges about? It's about Israel's disobedience and ours. It's about God's holiness and his perfect justice and his relentless love. And it's about Jesus, who is the only answer to the questions raised by this book.
Now What? - Matthew 7:24-29
Date: 08/14/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Now What?
Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29
Description: Jesus brings his sermon to a close with a vivid appeal to respond well to what he has said. The choice is clear. The stakes are high. Now what will you do with Jesus?
Beware False Peace - Matthew 7:21-23
Date: 08/07/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Beware False Peace
Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23
Description: With this warning Jesus raises a question that hovers over the entire Sermon on the Mount: who will enter the kingdom of heaven? His answer: it's not just what you say that matters, but what you do. And it's not just what you do that matters, it's whom you know.
Beware False Prophets - Matthew 7:15-20
Date: 07/31/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Beware False Prophets
Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20
Description: Jesus's warning is straightforward: Beware of false prophets. But who are these false prophets? And how can we recognize them?
The Narrow Gate - Matthew 7:13-14
Date: 07/24/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: The Narrow Gate
Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14
Description: With this radical rule of love Jesus sums up the ethics of the kingdom he's been describing all along. It's an incredibly simple rule: do for others what you wish they would do for you. But where do we get the strength to obey it?
Ask Your Father - Matthew 7:7-11
Date: 07/03/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Ask Your Father
Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11
Description: Jesus says when we ask God for something we'll receive it. But what does that mean, and why should we believe it's true?
Judge Not - Matthew 7:1-6
Date: 06/26/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Judge Not
Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6
Description: Jesus warns us against standing in judgment over others because we're not worthy ourselves, and because we don't see everything clearly.
Don't Be Anxious - Matthew 6:25-34
Date: 06/19/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Don't Be Anxious
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34
Description: Several times in this text Jesus gives the same simple command: don't be anxious. To those of us who struggle with anxiety, that can sound a bit like blaming the victim. Who would really choose to be anxious, after all? But what Jesus offers isn't a dismissive charge to get over it. Nor is it a comprehensive explanation of everything that goes into anxiety. What he offers are weapons for the battle with anxiety that are powerful no matter what your unique struggle looks like.
Do Not Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures On Earth - Matthew 6:19-24
Date: 06/12/16
Speaker: Will Acuff
Title: Do Not Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures On Earth
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24
Description: Jesus warns us that we can only serve one Master. His words challenge us to make God our beloved treasure, not earthly wealth that will only decay.
Costly Or Valuable? - Matthew 5:43-48
Date: 06/05/16
Speaker: Matt McCullough
Title: Costly Or Valuable?
Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18
Description: In the discipline of fasting, as in anything we sacrifice for God and his kingdom, either we will be celebrated for the costliness of our commitment or God will be celebrated for the value of his friendship.